smuggled; smuggling
ˈsmə-g(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to import or export secretly contrary to the law and especially without paying duties imposed by law
2
: to convey or introduce surreptitiously
: to import or export something in violation of the customs laws
Examples of smuggle in a Sentence
He was arrested for smuggling drugs into the country.
They smuggled immigrants across the border.
The paintings had been smuggled out of the country before the war.
We smuggled his favorite sandwich past the nurse.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two detention deputies who are accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the jail on Stock Island, the agency said.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Liu allegedly smuggled the fungus into the country at Detroit Metro Airport in clear plastic baggies in his backpack in July 2024.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Following the theft, a special committee was set up to review artifacts in the laboratory and images of the missing bracelet were circulated to antiquities units at Egypt’s airports, seaports and land border crossings, fearing it would be smuggled abroad.
—CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Specifically, these mitigations work by requiring explicit user consent before an AI assistant can click links or use markdown links—which are the normal ways to smuggle information off of a user environment and into the hands of the attacker.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025
Liu allegedly smuggled the fungus into the country at Detroit Metro Airport in clear plastic baggies in his backpack in July 2024.
—Christina Hall, Freep.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Following the theft, a special committee was set up to review artifacts in the laboratory and images of the missing bracelet were circulated to antiquities units at Egypt’s airports, seaports and land border crossings, fearing it would be smuggled abroad.
—CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Specifically, these mitigations work by requiring explicit user consent before an AI assistant can click links or use markdown links—which are the normal ways to smuggle information off of a user environment and into the hands of the attacker.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for smuggle
Cite this Entry
“Smuggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/smuggle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
smuggle
verb
smug·gle
ˈsmə-gəl
smuggled; smuggling
: to import or export secretly and illegally especially to avoid paying duties or to evade enforcement of laws
smuggle drugs
convicted of smuggling weapons
: to export or import something in violation of customs laws
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share